Nissan Ariya review
For family buyers contemplating the switch to electric motoring, the Nissan Ariya is a capable and upmarket-feeling option
Our opinion on the Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya is still a fine effort from the Japanese brand, but its advancing age is starting to expose some flaws. While the Ariya is still a reasonably practical mid-size SUV that’s decent to drive and rather premium in feel, its overall efficiency lags behind the best in class, and this is a problem that remains despite its midlife facelift. The arrival of our reigning Car of the Year, the Nissan Leaf, has also left us questioning whether the Ariya is really worth the extra money.
About the Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya is similar in size to the Nissan X-Trail, residing at the larger end of the mid-size SUV class, and it combines family car practicality with the zero-tailpipe emissions of all-electric power. It feels like a much higher quality car than many Nissans that preceded it, too, helping to make the Ariya a worthy recipient of our Car of the Year award back in 2022. However, the electric SUV world has greatly expanded since then.
The Ariya is based on the CMF-EV platform, which also underpins the Renault Megane and the Renault Scenic under Nissan’s Alliance partnership with the French brand. Two battery options are available in the Ariya: a 63kWh (usable capacity) model with a range of approximately 250 miles, and a larger 87kWh (usable capacity) unit with a claimed maximum range of 329 miles. Despite the car having received a facelift in 2026, these batteries and WLTP figures remained unchanged.
Used - available now
2024 Nissan
Ariya
9,030 milesAutomaticElectric
Cash £22,853
2024 Nissan
Ariya
20,613 milesAutomaticElectric
Cash £18,995
2024 Nissan
Ariya
43,553 milesAutomaticElectric
Cash £18,770
2024 Nissan
Ariya
17,200 milesAutomaticElectric
Cash £24,280Our head of digital content, Steve Walker, spent six months behind the wheel of a Nissan Ariya in 2024 on a long-term test. While he mostly found this SUV to be a pleasure to live with, dated tech and underwhelming efficiency were two key causes for concern.
Performance & driving experience
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Despite being a relatively tall and heavy electric SUV, the Nissan Ariya delivers a decent drive with the ride comfort expected of an SUV designed for family life.
Nissan has fettled the chassis as part of the facelift in order to improve ride quality. However, our test car felt pretty firm at lower speeds and then a bit unsettled on the motorway. If you want the most comfort you can find from a mainstream electric SUV of this size, we’re yet to ride in anything for similar money that tops the Citroen e-C5 Aircross.
Try to drive the Ariya quickly and you can always feel the hefty kerb weight. This car simply isn’t as fun to drive as the more dynamic Kia EV6. Following its midlife revisions, the Ariya is also now only available in front-wheel drive form.
Switch the drive mode to Sport, and the throttle set-up becomes noticeably sharper while the steering gains a lot of weight. You also get a loud simulated powertrain whine like a sci-fi flying saucer, but the whole experience isn’t really in keeping with the Ariya’s strengths. We think it’s best to keep it in the more comfortable settings.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| Nissan Ariya Engage+ 63kWh | 214bhp | 7.5 seconds | 100mph |
| Nissan Ariya Advance 87kWh | 239bhp | 7.5 seconds | 100mph |
Electric motors, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
The entry-level 63kWh model delivers 214bhp and 300Nm of torque from its single electric motor, which drives the front wheels. This allows it to achieve the 0-62mph benchmark in a reasonable 7.5 seconds. Upgrading to the 87kWh battery gets you a stronger 239bhp electric motor, but due to the additional weight of this pack and unchanged torque, both models share the exact same acceleration time and top speed.
If you are in a significant rush, the entirety of the Tesla Model Y line-up has an advantage here, as even the slowest model will manage the 0-62mph run in 6.9 seconds.
Town driving, visibility and parking
Driving in and around town is pretty effortless, thanks mainly to the accelerator that responds smoothly to inputs, plus the Ariya can move seamlessly between its regenerative braking system and mechanical braking, and there’s always the company’s impressive e-Pedal one-pedal drive setting, which is strong enough for you to control the car just on the accelerator and bring it to a full stop. In e-Pedal mode, there’s no jerkiness or uncomfortable jolts as you slow to a stop, which is a real plus point when driving in heavy traffic.
Country road driving and handling
The Ariya’s suspension is more than accomplished at dealing with the typical imperfections of UK roads. Bigger bumps can send shudders through the car, but on half-decent surfaces, it’s good at cosseting its occupants - even on the larger 20” wheels - compared to the average electric SUV. The firm set-up helps keep body roll in check unless you up the cornering speeds, plus there’s plenty of grip to allow you to tackle B-roads confidently.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
There’s very little wind noise and not too much roar from the Nissan Ariya’s tyres when taking on a long motorway run. However, our test car sometimes struggled to settle down at times, slightly impeding the otherwise calm ride quality. The steering is well-judged to make it effortless to track straight at speed and stay in your lane without frequent adjustment.
“The quiet of the cabin is repeatedly shattered by Nissan’s annoying ADAS tech, particularly the speed-limit warning and driver-fatigue monitoring.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
Range, charging & running costs
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The Nissan Ariya was already trailing several rivals in terms of efficiency, so the fact that this wasn't addressed with the facelifted car is rather disappointing. Opting for an entry-level Nissan Ariya with the 63kWh battery means the overall range is a claimed 250 miles. An entry-level Renault Scenic, meanwhile, can officially cover up to 392 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. It’s also worth bearing in mind that this rival is a bit cheaper to buy, when the Government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) is taken into account.
Moving up to the larger 87kWh battery does boost Ariya’s WLTP combined range up to 329 miles, which is an exact match with the Kia EV5. However, it still lags behind some rivals - the slightly cheaper Peugeot E-3008 Long Range claims 434 miles.
An energy-efficient heat pump is provided as standard on the Ariya. This helps preserve the vehicle's range by more efficiently heating the interior in cold weather. It’s useful for longer trips during winter months and something reserved for the options list of rivals like the Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4.
With the Ariya capable of charging at up to 130kW, it should take around half an hour to complete a 10 to 80 per cent top-up of either battery size. We’d like overall efficiency to be a little better; the Ariya 63kWh managed 3.7 miles per kWh during our test, while other EVs, such as the Genesis GV60 and Skoda Enyaq, can record in excess of 4.0 miles per kWh.
If you decide the all-electric Ariya is the right family car for you, you’ll want to organise a good home charging set-up. Fully replenishing the 63kWh battery in base model Ariyas will take 10 hours from a 7.4kW home wallbox, while those with the larger 87kWh battery will need to be plugged in for roughly 14 hours.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| Nissan Ariya Engage+ 63kWh | 63kWh | 250 miles | 31 |
| Nissan Ariya Advance 87kWh | 87kWh | 329 miles | 33 |
Insurance groups
Insurance premiums for the Nissan Ariya will be average as mid-size electric SUVs go. The two models sit in insurance groups 31 and 33 out of 50, respectively. This does make the Nissan slightly cheaper to insure than several variants of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, as that starts from group 33. However, the Ford Explorer drops as low as group 21 while the entry-level Skoda Enyaq resides in group 27.
Tax
The revised Nissan Ariya line-up sits below the £50,000 luxury car tax threshold for EVs, so this is no longer a threat. However, one potential cost to be wary of is the planned eVED pay-per-mile tax, which could take effect in 2028.
As always, company car drivers stand to save plenty by driving the fully-electric Ariya, because it attracts the lowest applicable Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates.
Depreciation
Our market data indicates that the Nissan Ariya should retain between 41 and 50 per cent of its original value after three years or 36,000 miles. This makes the Ariya a sturdier investment than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, as that only holds 36 to 40 per cent after the same period. The Renault Scenic is even stronger, though, at 53 per cent.
To get an accurate valuation for a specific model, check out our free car valuation tool...
Interior, design & technology
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The Ariya has a distinctive exterior design, but it's inside the cabin where buyers will be seriously impressed. The level of perceived quality is very good and better than you’ll find in most Volkswagen ID-badged rivals.
The entry-level Engage+ model comes with a reasonable amount of kit, but we recommend the fancier Advance trim because it comes with many useful luxuries, such as:
- A 12.3-inch infotainment system with sat-nav
- Wireless phone charging
- A 360-degree camera system, along with front and rear parking sensors
- An electric tailgate
- Heated front seats and steering wheel
- A heated windscreen
- Electrically adjustable front seats.
Interior and dashboard design
The Nissan Ariya’s cabin is probably its biggest strength. The wood-effect trim combines well with the premium-feeling upholstery, while the ambient lighting — inspired by traditional Japanese lanterns — is a smart touch.
That being said, there’s still a fair amount of less-luxurious plastic that’s easy enough to find. This means the Ariya doesn’t quite manage to match the plushness of the Cupra Tavascan or Smart #5, but it is still a pleasant place to be.
Instead of traditional dials to operate the heating and ventilation functions, Nissan has used a series of haptic controls set into the dash below the 12.3-inch infotainment screen. They work surprisingly well and add to the cool interior design theme.
The sliding centre console is an unusual feature and allows you to prioritise cross-cabin access up front or in the rear by sliding it back and forth at the touch of a button. There’s also a twin-glove box storage arrangement in the lower section of the dash with a button to electrically open the central glovebox - which provides secure storage when the car is locked.
Materials and build quality
Build quality is more than up to scratch, and the Ariya feels well-built and sturdy. It’s good enough to compete with some premium badged models and a lot better than you might expect from Nissan.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
A pair of large 12.3-inch displays have been carried over from the pre-facelift car, but they have received a fresh software update. Google Maps and Google Assistant are now built in, but these screens still don’t offer the sort of sharp resolution that you’ll find in rivals like the Renault Scenic.
One thing we were reasonably impressed by was the screen’s speed when responding to touches, while loading times, in general, are competitive with systems from rivals such as Volkswagen. There are some small icons on the screen that can be difficult to press on the move, but the menu system is broadly logical and easy to operate.
The navigation system can also select the most energy-efficient route and suggest charging stops along your journey, plus a function to pre-condition the battery before you arrive for the most effective recharging.
Of course, there’s the added benefit of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity if you want to run navigation or audio apps directly from your phone. Wireless phone charging is standard.
“The Ariya offers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging now, so its big battery pack can be used to power small appliances should you get desperate on a family camping trip.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
Boot space & practicality
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There’s only one bodystyle for the Ariya, which follows the more svelte coupe-like shape of the Skoda Enyaq Coupe and Peugeot E-3008 than the traditional upright SUV shape of a regular Skoda Enyaq or Volkswagen ID.4. While this doesn’t have much of an impact on rear seat space, the boot is on the small side for this size of car.
At least you do get a rear windscreen wiper with the Ariya (although it is on the small size and not central) to clear the rear window in bad weather, unlike the E-3008 where it is supposed to clear with the airflow going over the car while driving at speed.
One thing we’re not keen on in the Ariya, though, is the driving position. The seat feels very highly placed, so it feel like you’re sitting on top of the car rather than in it. Some drivers might get used to this sensation, but it won’t be to everyone’s tastes.
Dimensions and size
The Ariya is slightly bigger all-round than its Nissan Qashqai sibling but a little smaller than the Nissan X-Trail. Compared to other successful family EVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is longer and wider than the Ariya, while the Skoda Enyaq also has a larger footprint.
| Dimensions comparison | |||
| Model | Nissan Ariya | Skoda Enyaq | Tesla Model Y |
| Length | 4,595mm | 4,658mm | 4,790mm |
| Width | 1,850mm | 1,879mm | 1,982mm |
| Height | 1,660mm | 1,622mm | 1,624mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,775mm | 2,766mm | 2,890mm |
| Boot space | 466-1,350 litres | 585-1,710 litres | 890-2,138 litres (plus 88 litres under the bonnet) |
Seats & passenger space
The Nissan Ariya is a very comfortable car to spend time in. The flat floor and sliding centre console give excellent cross-cabin access for getting kids out of the car on the side nearest the kerb or away from parked cars. The sliding centre console, offered with electric power as standard on Evolve models, also includes extra storage, but not as much as you might hope given its size.
Rear passengers will welcome the generous space on offer, including the under-seat foot room. The centre seat is particularly comfortable compared to rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.5 and Genesis GV60, although we still wouldn’t recommend it for an adult on a long journey. Two six-foot tall rear passengers can sit very comfortably behind a driver and passenger of a similar size, although the seat base is quite low to the floor, so they will have to bunch their knees up a little.
There are two Isofix points on the outer positions of the rear bench, and these are neatly concealed in zip-up slits in the seat bases, which allow for very easy access. Those travelling in the back also get two USB ports, one of which is the faster USB-C version.
Boot space
At 466 litres for the regular front-wheel drive Ariya, the boot’s volume is merely okay. The Ariya has the same handy divider panel set-up as its smaller sibling, the Nissan Qashqai, which means you can separate items in the boot or stop them sliding towards the back seats. You can even raise the panels to create a flat boot floor to eliminate any annoying loading lip.
Overall volume isn’t far from that of the Kia EV6, but that car has the benefit of a front boot under the bonnet, which works as a great way of separating the potentially dirty charging cables from your clean luggage. All that’s under the bonnet of the Ariya is the front electric motor, a lot of wiring, and coolant hoses.
All Nissan Ariya versions come with a 60/40 split folding rear seat if you need to utilise its maximum boot capacity of up to 1,350 litres , although that folding arrangement isn't as handy as the more flexible 40/20/40 you’ll find in the BMW iX1.
Towing
Now that Nissan has done away with the e-4ORCE four-wheel drive model, the Ariya is only capable of towing up to 750kg. If you have a caravan or trailer but really want to stick with electric power, the Kia EV6 is one of the strongest options, as this can handle up to 1,800kg.
“Six-foot-tall adults have plenty of legroom to stretch out, but headroom is tight. Those with longer limbs may also notice they’ve not got much under-thigh support because the seat base is low.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
Reliability & safety
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The Ariya didn’t appear in the most recent Driver Power satisfaction survey, but the Nissan brand did rise to 12th place on the best manufacturer scoreboard. Owners were generally pleased with their cars’ powertrains and the driving experience, but some on-board technology issues and high servicing costs tarnished the final score.
In 2022, independent safety experts at Euro NCAP awarded the Nissan Ariya its top five-star score. Nissan's family EV received an 86 per cent score for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, and 93 per cent for safety assistance systems.
Standard kit includes the ProPilot suite of semi-autonomous safety systems, which provides various driving assistance features to help make driving safer and a little less stressful. You get an adaptive cruise control system to help keep you a safe distance from the car in front. There’s also a blind spot monitoring system to warn you of vehicles alongside you when you change lanes, and a lane keep assistance system to help keep you within your lane on a motorway drive. Traffic sign recognition warns you of the current speed limit, a rear cross traffic alert system to alert you of vehicles crossing your path while reversing, and an automatic emergency braking that aims to avoid or mitigate collisions at low speeds with pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars on the road.
| Euro NCAP safety ratings | |
| Euro NCAP safety rating | Five stars (2022) |
| Adult occupant protection | 86% |
| Child occupant protection | 89% |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 74% |
| Safety assist | 93% |
Buying, prices and deals
Our best buy: Nissan Ariya 63kWh Engage+
The Nissan Engage+ is eligible for Band 2 of the Government’s Electric Car Grant, which means a £1,500 reduction automatically applies to the Engage+ model, which starts from £35,500 once this discount is applied. The 87kWh Advance doesn’t receive the grant, though, which means a considerably higher starting price of around £43,500.
Although the larger battery range has its obvious benefits, we’d stick with the entry-level car in order to keep costs under control. This can still cover enough miles to meet most everyday needs, and there’s a decent amount of kit thrown in as standard, not to mention the all-important heat pump.
We can help you to configure your ideal Nissan Ariya and find top offers from over 5,500 UK dealers. You can also take a look at the latest Nissan Ariya leasing deals or search for used Nissan Ariya models with our Buy A Car service. You can even sell your existing car for a great price with Auto Express Sell My Car.
Nissan Ariya alternatives
Nissan’s electric SUV faced steady competition upon its arrival, and the market has continued to grow since then. Buyers in this mid-size SUV space can choose from models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Skoda Enyaq, Toyota bZ4X, Vauxhall Grandland Electric, and Volkswagen ID.4. The Renault Scenic is another option which shares its underpinnings with the Ariya. If you don’t mind downsizing, there’s also the latest Nissan Leaf, which impressed us so much that we crowned it as our 2026 Car of the Year.
At the upper end of the electric SUV spectrum, Nissan’s creation goes head-to-head with models like the Audi Q4 e-tron and Tesla Model Y on price, but in terms of quality, it’s not outclassed in that company. The Renault Scenic, Skoda Enyaq and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are aligned on price with the lesser Ariya models.
Nissan Ariya pictures
Key updates of the Nissan Ariya review
5 November 2026: Latest driving impressions and details about facelifted model.
Frequently Asked Questions
All Nissan Ariyas have a 3-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard. There’s also an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery.
Deals on the Ariya and alternatives
